The British High Commissioner, Mr Paul Arkwright, on Friday, says Niger Delta region is crucial to Nigeria’s prosperity but the security challenge needs to be tackled.
Arkwright made the remark at the launch of Defiant Embers documentary organised by the British High Commission in Port Harcourt.
The documentary highlighted the economic opportunities in the Niger Delta, as well as the challenges.
According to Arkwright, an estimated 80 per cent of Nigerian government revenue comes from the oil and gas industry but the lack of security in the region is a major concern.
He maintained that the challenge needed to be tackled, noting that one of the key reasons for the instability in the region was poverty, generally due to the lack of opportunities.
The commissioner added that the region suffered from unemployment created through environmental damage which he observed was caused by both oil spill and illegal oil businesses.
He said “everyone had a role to play in preventing further damage: the federal and state governments as well as international oil companies should ensure repairs from spills and hasten the Ogoni cleanup.
“Communities should refrain from illegal oil theft and pipeline attacks which could further cause violence and kidnapping.
“International investors, British investors, they need to now know that their resources and their people and their money are safe.
“If businesses cannot ensure that the people are safe from the threat of criminality including kidnapping, then I’m afraid they will go to somewhere else to invest.”
Arkwright urged the region as well as the nation in general to ensure that the 2019 general elections were free, fair, credible and peaceful.
He noted that the Niger Delta region was rich in oil reserves but said there was need to diversify the economy by creating more jobs to be able to sustain long term stability.
He said that for all of the reasons, the British Government had inaugurated and formally funded the documentary which showcased the opportunities abound in the region.
He explained that “we want to highlight these opportunities to prospective investors to encourage investment, to create jobs and bring prosperity in the region.”
Arkwright expressed hope that Britons would be inspired by the documentary.
According to him, the documentary will also be shown to British investors so that they can visit the region and see for themselves.
He added that “my message here today is a positive one, optimistic one and it’s about how we can create jobs for young people of this region and Rivers State because they really need it.”
Gov. Nyesom Wike of Rivers, who was the special guest of honour at the occasion, commended the British High Commission for the documentary, emphasising that the Niger Delta region was important to Nigeria’s development.
Wike, who was represented by his Deputy, Dr Banigo Ipalibo-Harry, said that the state was endowed with huge natural resources to tap into and urged the Federal Government to dredge the NPA wharf to create jobs.